Introduction, Specifications and Pricing

ID-Cooling is not exactly brand new to CPU cooling, as it just takes one look on their website to realize they have amassed a seriously large arsenal of CPU coolers, it is just that this is the first that we are able to deal with them and review said products. The last we saw from ID-Cooling was when we got our introduction to them with the oddly shaped, but well thought out T60 SFX chassis. Even being from a completely different market, we do have some idea of the quality control used, and the extent to which they will go to make a product that, while it may not be for everyone, it will remain in the back of your mind, sort of like that 80s TV show theme song that keeps rearing its head every once in a while.

We see that ID-Cooling likes to run a series of coolers that all share a similar name. We found the FI or Finland series, we see the IS or Iceland series, the DK or Denmark series, and lastly there is the SE or Sweden series of cooler, and is the series to which our sample belongs. Even when it comes to this series of coolers, we find that there are also six other styles of the SE 2xx series that we are looking at today and it appears there is one other cooler that shares the name almost identically as well. So, if you do go looking around at what they have to offer, pay very close attention to the model numbers, as it is easy to get confused and a bit lost as to what is going on with so many options.

Specifically why we are all together at this time is due to ID-Cooling sending us the SE 214X CPU cooler to test. The main idea here was to use the KISS principle of design, and offer the masses a cooler that is fully capable of the demands of today's PCs, and at the same time, a very affordable price point. That is in no way to say that this is some old tech slapped together with a pretty fan and sent to pass it off as something new. There are actually some design elements that many will appreciate, and one strange one, that while we can see how it works and why it is there, we just don't get the overall point. If a wallet friendly pricing doesn't already have your interests piqued, we can say that what you are about to see is pretty impressive considering what we are given to work with.

The chart provided by ID-Cooling shows us basically what it is we are dealing with in this design. Things get rolling with a huge list of compatible sockets that this cooler will mount to without issue. This includes all current Intel sockets, and everything AMD post socket 939. The SE 214X that we are given offers a 130W TDP rating, and stands only 159mm tall, is 85mm deep with the fan on it, and is 123mm in width totaling 770 grams. This chart does not cover the direct touch base design or the aluminum base component, but they do mention the four 6mm diameter heat pipes used to transfer the heat. They also make no mention of the 48 fins in the stack, or that they and the heat pipes are left in their natural state.

In this chart, there are more lines dedicated to the ID-Cooling NO 12025 120mm fan included with the tower. This fan frame is 123mm square, and while basically all black in color, there are red rubber isolation pads built into it as well. This fan will spin in the range of 800 to 1800 RPM delivering a maximum of 60.7 CFM of flow and 1.81 mmH2O of pressure. While this fan needs 7V to start, it can run beyond 12V to 13.2V and still be within operational voltage range, and will deliver up to 29.2 dB(A) of noise. Other than the current and power demands of the fan, we also see that the hub of the translucent blades of this fan is supported on a hydraulic bearing. There is no mention on the charts, but digging deeper allowed us to find that the entire SE series of coolers offers a three-year warranty.

Budget friendly coolers always seem to have a soft spot in many potential customers' hearts. Not everyone can afford to lay out $100 on top tier air cooling, or even more for a top end AIO, they just need the basics. With this cooler, it fills a couple of voids. Of course, the $34.99 pricing we are seeing across the board is a great way to check off the box for low cost. The thing is though, at the same time, it is able to keep up with a few more expensive coolers, and even holds on well enough to compete with the be quiet! Pure Rock we just looked at with a very similar price point.

Realizing this is all a lot to digest, allow us to break it down for you as we get up close and personal with the SE 214X CPU cooler, and see if ID-Cooling has a good grasp on what it takes to compete in this market.

PRICING: You can find the ID-Cooling SE 214X CPU Cooler for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing, but can change at any time. Click the link below to see real-time pricing for the best deal:

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